Chaeles r



-' (No Model.)

. G. R.WELLS.

DEVICE FOR TEACHING PENMANSHIP.

Patented O0t.31,189 3,

ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. wELLs, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TWo-THIRDS TO CHARLES W. BARDEEN, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR TEACHING PENMANSHIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,950, dated October 31, 1893. Application filed May 27 1892- Serial No. 434,584. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Devices for Teach-' ing Penmanship, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for teaching penmanship, and has for its object the production of a simple, effective, and highly economical appliance for compelling the user to maintain a correct position of the hand and fingers when writing; and to this end it consists, essentially, in a plate curved transversely and longitudinally and adapted to be supported in thepalm of the hand, an adjustable back strap for re taining the plate in position, an adjustable finger loop composed of a strap depending from the under face of the plate, and in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts, in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hand correctly disposed for writing'with my improved invention operatively secured thereto. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the detached plate of my invention adapted to be supported in the palm of the hand and the adjustable back strap and finger loop secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the parts as shown at Fig. 2, the lower extremity of the finger loop being broken away. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line -44--, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar transverse sectional view, taken on line 5'-5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a top plan View of a detached portion of the plate adapted to be supported in the hand, representing the support for the finger loop strap as in its position assumed before being turned downwardly into operative position; and Fig.7 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line 7-7-, Fig. 3.

When the hand is correctly held for writing the wrist should be maintained in a substantially horizontal plane elevated above the paper or other articlebeing written upon, the first and second fingers should be bent forwardly with the tip of the second finger slightly beneath and at the rear of the tip of the first finger, the pen being held in an inclined position with its lower end between the tips of the first and second fingers and knuckle of the first finger, and the third and fourth fingers should be curved backwardly and rest upon the back of their tips for supporting the hand and wrist.

My present invention is designed for enabling the writer to maintain his hand in this position, and indeed to prevent writing in any other position.

A represents a plate curved longitudinally and transversely, as best seen at Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and adapted to be supported in the palm of the hand, as shown at Fig. 1. This plate is preferably composed of a'single thickness of sheet metal.

.-B is the back strap adapted to be passed around the back of the hand for holding the plate firmly in position against the palm. This strap is preferably composed of sections -bb'- having their lower or opposite ends b -b fixed to the corresponding ends of the plate .A as by metallic ties b sol- .dered on the under face of said plate. The upper end of the section 'bis formed with .a series of perforations -b and the corresponding end of the opposite section b is provided with a spur or lug -b"- for engaging said perforations, whereby the strap -B- may be adj usted at will to fit the writers hand. The spurb maybe of any desirable form, of size, and construction, but preferably consists an upturned end upon a plate -,B', secured to the upper end of the strap section bby a second plate -B folded around the former plate B' and said end of the strap section b'. These plates B'B may be readily stamped and shaped to the de- C is a finger loop, which preferably consists of a flexible adjustable strap having one end c fixed to the under face of the plate A by a metallic tie -o'- corresponding its upper end just atthe rear of the second i si'red size and form and attached in position.

IOO

to the ties -b --b and the other provided with a series of perforations c adapted to engage a suitable support G'--. As best seen at Figs. 5 and 6 this support consists of the downtnrned arm c having a laterally extending lug c at its lower end provided with an upturned extremity -c This support is preferably formed integral with the plate -A by cutting out a portion thereof and bending the same downwardly as seen at Fig. 5.

In operation the plate A- is secured in position by the back strap -B, and the writer then bends his third and fourth fingers inwardly to the required position and adjusts the finger loop -C- to the desired length by registering one of the apertures -c therein with the upturned extremity -c of the sup The finger brace or support D, seen at Fig. 1, consists of a central body having upper and lower eyes dd for the reception of a pen holder also seen at said figure and having an eye D for the reception of the index finger of the writers hand. This finger brace or support forms no part of my present invention, and it is unnecessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing description and upon reference to the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a device for teaching penmanship, the combination of a rigid plate of less thickness than width curved transversely and longitudinally and adapted to be supported in the palm of the hand, an adjustable back strap having its opposite ends secured to the corresponding ends of said plate, and a flexible finger loop -C depending beneath the lower face of said plate substantially as de? scribed.

2. In a device for teaching penmanship, the combination of a plate curved transversely and longitudinally and adapted to be supported in the palm of the hand, a back strap consisting of two sections having their opposite ends fixed to the corresponding ends of the plate, the other end of one of said sections being provided with a series of perforations, a metallic plate folded around the adjacent end of the other section, a second plate engaged by the former plate and provided with a laterally extending spur for engaging the perforations of the other strap section, and a flexible finger loop C- depending beneath the lower face of said plate substantially as described.

3. In a device for teaching penmanship, the combination of a plate formed of a single thickness of metal curved transversely and longitudinally and adapted to be supported in the palm of the hand, a back strap consisting of two sections, the free end of one being provided with perforations, metallic ties secured to the under face of the opposite extremities of the plate for securing the opposite ends of the strap sections to the plate, a plate folded around the free end of the other of said strap sections, a second plate engaged by the former and provided with a laterally extending spur for engaging the perforations of the other strap sections, and a flexible finger loop -O depending beneath the lower face of said plate substantially as specified.

4. In a device for teaching penmanship, the combination of a rigid plate of less thickness than width curved transversely and longitudinally and adapted to be supported in the palm of the hand, and provided with an integral depending support having a laterally extending end, an adjustable back strap having its opposite ends secured to the corresponding ends of said plate, a finger loop consisting of a flexible strap having one end secured to the plate, and the other end provided with perforations adapted to engage the laterally extending end of the depending support on the plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 10th day of May, 1892.

CHARLES R. WELLS.

Witnesses:

. CLARK H. NORTON,

E. A. WEISBURG. 

